Here is my summary of learning project, completed with Jacquie!
Enjoy!
@jacquiesjoglog
Open the door to OER
After watching this video I realized that I had almost the exact experience that the video was talking about last year! I was teaching grade three and four, online. There were so little resources available for social studies in an online environment, so I was left using the Pearson textbook. We were learning about immigration and a pie chart was on the page of immigration in 2011. (Which also did not seem that long ago to me)! Some of the students spoke up and said “oh that is the year my older brother was born”. And then it hit me! This textbook is older than the kids using it. What kind of valuable information are kids getting from this? Like.. really?
This really brings forth the value of open education. Why shouldn’t we be able to share our resources, why should teachers then be expected to spend their own money on resources just for them to go outdated or to be part of yesterday’s trend. We really are stuck in a cyclical disaster. I think back to just my first year of teaching 5 short years ago, and I bought what was the current trend and top resources, and now here I am with those resources I spent hundreds of dollars on stashed away in my cupboard as my school implements new and improved resources and ideas.
I am not sure why more people have “bought into” this free educational resource. There is so much to offer and be a part of that allows for people to take ideas and points from others in a collaborative and open environment.
My last and final ponder on this topic is how do we actually and effectively get education to be accessible for all? What could this world be and turn into if we could get everyone in our world the truly acceptable and high quality education that everyone deserves.
All Blogged Out
My last writing prompt asked students to write about what they would change if they ran our school. While there was a variety of ideas, there was a number of that repeatedly showed up. We are the only school in the city that requires uniforms and while some students mentioned the benefits (no one makes fun of each other for your clothes, modesty, easy to identify students) this was the first thing that a majority of students would change. Next was use of cell phones. Our school has banned personal smart devices for k-8 students. I was not surprised by this, although reminding them that one student live streamed a class, was something that change a few minds. The third most common change they would bring to our school was gum. The amount of gum found on floors, desks, walls, etc., led to the school banning gum. Teachers are left to enforce it. In my class it has become a power play with one student, she refuses to stop, I have her get rid of it. It is a small but perpetual battle and it would appear the class has painted me (or at least the rule) as the villain.
Overall this was the most interesting blog for me. It gave me insight into what each student enjoys or dislikes about our community. A number of them treated it like a persuasive letter. I did mention that I would read and reflect on their ideas, so this was probably my influence. It was a great way to end our project and gave them a chance to share their concerns in a calm and reflective way. It was gratifying to see my goal realized. We had created an online community where they could share different ideas and actually discuss it without filling the page with bile. A few students who struggle with this in real life were some of the best commenters. Imagine that! A social media project led to someone being kinder!
I ended this unit with a voluntary survey. By Friday night I received 13 responses, a little over half the class. I added an “other” option to each question which made the results more diverse.
I was surprised not to get at least one “I didn’t care” response. A majority didn’t think the assignment was hard, followed by technology issues and forgetting to finish it. As the teacher technology issues were my biggest struggle. Our tech is limited and a few students genuinely had blogs get lost somewhere in the digital ether.
I had expected the largest response would be how short the assignment was. One paragraph was the minimum. The fact that the majority enjoyed that it was something different is making me reconsider my assignments in the future. Two respondents enjoyed getting to know more about their peers. This was not an option I had posted and I found it oddly wholesome.
This was the survey question I was most curious about. I was grateful to see a majority of students preferred to post positive messages, but disappointment that 3 students said they had to stop themselves from writing something mean. While you might think this was a sarcastic comment, the previous survey questions did not indicate they were taking this as a joke. That is not to say I was surprised. We have had discussions in class around why we treat people unkindly and admitted that sometimes people think it is fun.
Finally I asked two short answer questions; starting with “What could I do better next time?” This question exposed me to a trap that I see my students fall into; miscommunication. My intention was to find out what I, as in the teacher, could do better for them, the students. They read the question as a personal one. Most responded with write more or be kind in the comments (breakthrough!). Two students understood my intention and asked me to open the blogs in front of them to avoid losing marks for missed assignments (which I had done a few times) and make the assignment longer so students could express themselves more (second breakthrough!).
I ended with “How was this experience different from regular social media?” A few didn’t notice much difference, however half responded with it was “safer” and “positive.” One student responded that they usually get bullied on social media and this project made them feel respected and listened to. I think these responses have ensured I will do this project again.
In the end I am very happy with the results of this project. It forced me to rethink how I assign literacy, acted as a media literacy lesson, and created at least one safe place for them to share and exist as digital citizens. My one regret is not adding the following question, “Did this project change how you use social media?” I want to think they would write about how they post kind things online, they stand up for each other and push aside the trolls. Maybe they would, I think I will live in that safe place for now.
Landscaping: All Good Things Must Come to an End!
When I originally thought of landscaping a portion of my backyard to create a surface of patio stones for a firepit, I had concerns that it might be too simple and straightforward. “How hard could it really be?” was a question that I replayed over in my mind for about a week’s time. However, I quickly found out this was not the case! Landscaping is hard work!!! And more to the point, it requires immense attention to detail, while also being physically challenging at the same time. What I also came to realize was how unique my project was in its own way because I didn’t have much opportunity for “redo’s”. Creating an entertaining area by laying paving stones is a one-and-done deal. It’s difficult to go back and fix or try again if it’s not done right the first time. Therefore, I often found myself quadruple checking online and using social media in countless ways to ensure I was on the right track.
Throughout this learning project, I accessed countless social media platforms: Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to name a few. However, YouTube ended up being the most reliable and easy to follow (somewhat of a go-to) platform to get content and information for my project. I found that it was a ‘one-stop-shop’ for what I specifically needed: a good variety of amateur vs expert content, short and sweet videos if I needed a quick answer, long and detailed videos for the times I needed to see every aspect of the project through to completion, visuals that could be easily paused and replayed, comments and replies from people who had viewed and used the videos to help with their own DIY projects, and no ads (thanks so uBlock origin and AdBlock). For a project like this, I found YouTube to be the ideal social media platform and I would highly recommend it for anyone taking on their own backyard or house-related project.
Special shout-out to the following videos/resources for being my most frequent ‘go-to’s’ when I hit a roadblock:
- This Old House – How to Install Concrete Pavers
- PavestoneCompany – Pavestone Paver Installation
- Bro Builds Patio Firepit
- 10-Step Guide to Installing Pavers
Countless steps and new learnings went into this project, which included things such:
- Creating a rough sketch of the final layout and measuring the dimensions of the area that was going to be landscaped
- Getting line locates completed, courtesy of SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and SaskTel
- Understanding City of Regina bylaws regarding Firepit Regulations
- Properly measuring, grading, and prepping the area to prepare for digging/excavation
- Digging to an appropriate depth (7-9” below ground) to prep for the base layer
- Creating the base layer using gravel/crusher dust (approximately 80 gallons of crusher dust were poured and tamped down for my project)
- Leveling the base layer before adding 1” of sand throughout the area
- Laying the paving stones in the desired pattern
- Tamping and compressing the paving stones
- Adding sand and sweeping it into the cracks to help seal the stones into place
Overall, between researching, planning, and carrying out my project, I probably spent 40-50 hours on this project. And my firepit area isn’t even that large! Many of the projects that I watched on YouTube had a 8-10’ diameter circular paving stone area, and mine was only 6’ (although most videos I watched had 2 people working on the project, whereas I did almost everything on my own with very little help from my husband). Perhaps I was too thorough with some aspects of my project, but since there weren’t many opportunities for re-do’s, I wanted to ensure it was done properly and thoroughly the first time.
I have taken away so much amazing learning from this project. First off, landscaping is extremely hard work! I have a new-found appreciation for anyone who does landscaping or DIY projects around their yard. It requires a significant amount of planning and coordinating before starting the project. I’m glad I did my due-diligence with researching because at one point I was tempted to just start digging…that would’ve been a mistake that would’ve been tough to fix! Secondly, I didn’t know that each step of the process (digging, base layer, sand, paving stones) had to be so precisely measured and completed. I found myself measuring, remeasuring, and then measuring again before I picked up the shovel to ensure I had my plans right. Lastly, this project has helped reaffirm for me the value of social media, in general. The amount of content across the countless platforms is truly overwhelming (as in ChatGPT-capabilities type of overwhelming). There is truly something for everyone and everything: you just have to be willing to put in the time to find the stuff that’s right for you!
Learning online to complete this project definitely came with its fair share of challenges. Watching hours of videos and sorting through various resources that may or may not be useful eventually lost its fun, but it was more than worth it to have found the resources that were applicable and of value to me. Overall, it was an incredible and rewarding experience. To be able to look at our landscaped firepit area and enjoy it for years to come is honestly priceless! Knowing that I completed it (almost) all on my own is such an amazing feeling. I don’t like running, but perhaps this is what it feels like to have just finished running a marathon. The best part is that it’s an area that will be used for entertaining friends and family throughout the summer months when it’s time to kick back and relax!
Thanks so much for following along with my learning project. Here is one last video showing the final stages and eventual completion of my project (sped up 20x to save you from watching a 4-hour video). Enjoy!
Audio credit from the video:
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Work From Home – Fifth Harmony
Summary of Learning
Hi all! I am done my summary of learning for EC&I 831!
It sure has been a pleasure learning alongside everyone and I hope that you have learned as much as I have!
Final Product: Major Project
I chose to make a vlog to demonstrate my final product for my calligraphy learning project. Check it out!
Summary of Learning
Hi all! Laura Gaboury and I created a podcast: “Geeky Gurus: Janeen and Laura’s Edu-Tech Extravaganza!” for our summary of learning — take a listen! You can find our resources below. Resources Abe, P., & Jordan, N. A. (2013). Integrating social media into the classroom curriculum. About Campus: Enriching the Student Learning Experience, 18(1), 16–20. … Continue reading "Summary of Learning"
Final Week: Counting is not a strong suit.
This single class started off so strong! At least in my head, that was my plan, and then life gets in the way.
One can never quite prepare for the loss of a parent, but we all face the inevitable at some point in time. When this happens, we just need to put one foot in front of the other and do our best to continue moving forward.
Learning how to reupholster was a really enjoyable project to tackle. I have avoided the use of Chrome Tanned leathers in the past due to my preference to dye and finish Veg Tanned leathers, but due to the nature of needing a pliable medium, I took the leap.
At $1.63 a square foot, I was able to purchase two full hides in an attempt to tackle two big projects, which was down from the three that I had originally planned.
As I worked through my grief, I realized a few things about this project and life.
- We always think we have more time than we really do – I felt comfortable with the amount of time that I had been able to spend with my mother over the past year. I had hoped that things would work out for the better, but they worked out the best way that they could. Six weeks for this project seemed like lots of time, but with life taking up some of this last class, I am happy with the project that I was able to finish.
- Accept the cards we are dealt – Having my local fabric store close and not being able to get leather as quickly as I wanted, I had to let go of the initial plans that I had laid out. I focused on what I was able to get done, and accepted that I wasn’t going to get as much done as I had wanted to. Again, I know that I couldn’t change the trajectory of my mother’s journey, so I made the best of what I could.
- Appreciating what you have – My mom was a seamstress in her life, and I have always been rather handy with a sewing machine or a needle. I am now in possession of her sewing machine and some furniture that she had hand picked. I am able to take what I have learned over this past six weeks and make use of skills that I have developed over my life and combine them. Although I may not be fond of the fabric on the chair that I will tackle this summer, I am very appreciative of having it in my possession.
This learning project definitely provided me with the challenge of learning a new skill by leveraging online resources, but it also challenged me to slow down and just do what I can.
I may have stumbled over the finish line, but I made it.
Btw, this piece had been hanging in my parents bedroom forever, I thought it would only be fitting to include it here as my mom had been a big part of my Masters journey, she was pretty proud of my accomplishments.
Summary of Learning: The Finale
Just like that, the spring 2023 semester has come to a close! Thank you to everyone for sharing your ideas, thoughts, and experiences that contributed to this learning experience! I have genuinely learned so much this semester and have already started to put much of the learning into practice in my classroom.
I hope you enjoy my mediocre acting and my dog’s film debut in my summary of learning!
References
- Video created through Canva
- Music from Pixabay – Spring Upbeat by lemonmusicstudio
- Voice-over audio recorded through https://online-voice-recorder.com/
- Professional/Personal Learning Network
- Social Media Platforms
- Social Media in Education
- Social Media Activism
- Open Education
Final Step Towards Learning
I’ve been quite worn out this week. My capstone synthesis course assignment took too long, and the most of the time I was preoccupied with work. Even though I had a busy schedule, I still made time for my workout. In order to be healthy and strong for my martial arts, I went for a morning stroll. Once I’ve mastered the stances and can retain both balance and power, I’ll have finished my martial arts training. Without a doubt, I’m still working on it. I wouldn’t say with assurance that I’m perfect in that regard, but I’m still trying. I’ll start taking classes after my master’s is finished.
I’ve gained greater insight into my weaknesses this week as a result of practicing martial arts with my director’s daughter. I’ve studied punches as well and practice them frequently, but I’m still not fantastic at them. Even yet, I have put a lot of effort into improving my weakness. For example, I used a work strategy while applying a punch to my had. Like when I bent down and kicked the opponent with my right toe at a right angle, but that was the incorrect course of action. Then, my director daughter’s informed me that before kicking someone else, we must first fix our positions. You must then watch your opponent’s position, alter your position as necessary, and take note of when the other person starts punching.
Video on https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qhhBgU_2m2c
Despite this past week’s focus on a significant learning endeavour, I also learned about the various forms of martial arts. Shokotan, Ju Jitsu, Bajutsu, Jeet Kune Do, Kyusho Jitsu, Kuntao, Kokonda, and Kenjutsu are just a few examples of the many different martial arts. I’ve learned about all the stages from list-of-martial-arts , especially the crucial one. I now know that the martial art form known as Shokotan makes use of strikes. Despite the fact that I have started punches on opponents in this manner. That’s the method I prefer to use while punching an opponent in a martial arts match. However, Kenjustsu and Kokonda, two of the aforementioned martial arts styles, are my favorite’s and most practical.
Kokondo is utilised for self-defense and Kenjutsus is a tool for instruction in the study of martial arts.
Nodobut, even though I’ve reached the pinnacle of my martial arts training, I’m continuously learning and honing different forms. I’m having a great time and am happy for the activity and skill.
Thanks for reading .
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